AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightThese exploratory findings should be interpreted cautiously and may inform future controlled studies.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Abstract
Aims: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a cornerstone non-pharmacological intervention in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), improving symptoms and functional capacity. However, the relationship between PR-related clinical improvement and routinely available systemic inflammatory markers remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to exploratorily evaluate associations between changes in inflammatory markers and clinical outcomes following PR in patients with COPD. Methods: This single-arm, prospective, before-and-after observational study was conducted between May and November 2025. Patients with COPD completed a six-week cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program. Clinical outcomes included the Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale, COPD assessment test (CAT), body-mass index, Airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea, and Exercise Capacity (BODE) Index, and six-minute walk test (6MWT). Laboratory assessments comprised complete blood count parameters, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, albumin, total protein, and selected derived inflammatory indices. Pre- and post-rehabilitation changes in clinical and inflammatory parameters were analyzed. Results: Thirty-six participants completed the rehabilitation program. Significant improvements were observed in mMRC, CAT, BODE Index, and 6MWT distance (all p<0.001). Modest reductions were noted in leukocyte count, monocyte count, CRP levels, and the CRP/albumin ratio (p=0.007, p=0.039, p<0.001, and p<0.005, respectively). Exploratory correlation analyses showed no significant associations between inflammatory changes and changes in 6MWT, BODE Index, or mMRC scores, while modest correlations were observed between changes in CAT scores and selected inflammatory parameters. Conclusion: Pulmonary rehabilitation was associated with meaningful clinical improvements and modest changes in selected inflammatory markers. These exploratory findings should be interpreted cautiously and may inform future controlled studies.